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Best Ultra League Lead Pokemon
Best Ultra League Switches
Best Ultra League Closers
Pokemon Go Ultra League: Recommended Team Comps
Things get a little harder when the Ultra League swings back into rotation in Pokemon Go PvP. While your Pokemon are limited to 2,500 CP, this means a lot of heavy hitters can—and will—join the fray. In this case, Shadow Pokemon and XL Pokemon are frequent.
RELATED: Pokemon Go: Spotlight Hour Guide
You're not bound by specific Pokemon types like the other main leagues. As long as you stick to the CP limit, anything goes. It's hard to build a team that is strong against the majority of types, so we've put together our suggestions for both individual choices and overall team comps.
Always be aware of a Pokemon's new CP level when you evolve it, as it may take you past the CP limit. You'll see the new amount before you confirm the evolution, and the game will warn you about potentially exceeding limits.
Updated on March 18, 2023, by Christian Pellegrino: With several new Pokemon, new moves, and move adjustments, some of the best Pokemon for Ultra League have changed as well. Not only have we updated this guide with the new top-tier Pokemon for Ultra League, but we have increased the number of Pokemon recommendations, now presenting you with a complete Pokemon Go Ultra League tier list.
Best Ultra League Lead Pokemon
These Pokemon are exceptional starters, bringing high shield pressure, a spammy nature, and sometimes incredible bulk to your opening gambit. The aim here is to force your opponent to waste their shields early so that your other Pokemon can mop up later.
It's hard to prepare hard counters when there are no limits on type, so we've chosen reliable leads overall. Below you can find several Pokemon that will perform exceptionally well in this role, ranking them in the style of a tier list, ranging from S tier to C tier.
Fast Moves are in normal text, Charge Moves in italic.
Resistant means that the Pokemon takes less damage from moves of that type.
Weak means that the Pokemon takes more damage from moves of that type.
Shadow Pokemon are typically stronger than their normal counterparts, so if you have them, use them!
Pokemon | Tier Ranking | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pidgeot (Normal/Flying) | S-Tier | Wing Attack Feather Dance Brave Bird | Ground Ghost Grass Bug | Electric Ice Rock |
 Registeel (Steel) | S-Tier | Lock On Focus Blast Zap Cannon | Poison Steel Rock Psychic Normal Ice Grass Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground |
 Trevenant (Ghost/Grass) | S-Tier | Shadow Claw Shadow Ball Seed Bomb | Normal Fighting Water Ground Grass Electric | Dark Fire Flying Ghost Ice |
 Shadow Charizard (Fire/Flying) | S-Tier | Wing Attack Blast Burn Dragon Claw | Grass Bug Steel Ground Fire Fighting Fairy | Rock Electric Water |
 Shadow Gliscor (Ground/Flying) | S-Tier | Wing Attack Night Slash Earthquake | Ground Poison Fighting Electric Bug | Ice Water |
 Shadow Luxray (Electric) | A-Tier | Spark Wild Charge Psychic Fangs | Steel Flying Electric | Ground |
 Altered Forme Giratina (Ghost/Dragon) | A-Tier | Shadow Claw Dragon Claw Shadow Sneak | Normal Fighting Water Poison Grass Fire Electric Bug | Dark Dragon Fairy Ghost Ice |
 Swampert (Water/Ground) | A-Tier | Mud Shot Hydro Cannon Earthquake | Steel Rock Poison Fire Electric | Grass |
 Guzzlord (Dark/Dragon) | A-Tier | Dragon Tail Dragon Claw Crunch | Psychic Water Grass Ghost Fire Electric Dark | Fairy Bug Dragon Fighting Ice |
 Cobalion (Steel/Fighting) | B-Tier | Double Kick Sacred Sword Stone Edge | Rock Poison Bug Steel Normal Ice Grass Dragon Dark | Fighting Fire Ground |
 Sneasler (Fighting/Poison) | B-Tier | Shadow Claw Close Combat X-Scissor | Bug Rock Poison Grass Fighting Dark | Psychic Flying Ground |
 Shadow Steelix (Steel) | B-Tier | Dragon Tail Psychic Fangs Crunch | Poison Rock Electric Steel Psychic Normal Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground Water |
 Aurorus (Rock/Ice) | B-Tier | Powder Snow Weather Ball (Ice) Meteor Beam | Poison Normal Ice Flying | Fighting Steel Grass Ground Rock Water |
 Jellicent (Water/Ghost) | C-Tier | Hex Surf Shadow Ball | Normal Fighting Water Steel Poison Ice Fire Bug | Dark Electric Ghost Grass |
 Scrafty (Fighting/Dark) | C-Tier | Counter Foul Play Power-Up Punch | Dark Rock Psychic Ghost | Fairy Fighting Flying |
 Buzzwole (Bug/Fighting) | C-Tier | Counter Superpower Lunge | Ground Grass Fighting Dark Bug | Flying Fairy Fire Psychic |
 Shadow Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy) | C-Tier | Powder Snow Weather Ball (Ice) Dazzling Gleam | Dragon Ice Dark Bug | Steel Fire Poison Rock |
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Registeel's Zap Cannon, Pidgeot's Wing Attack, Charizard's Wing Attack and Blast Burn, Luxray's Psychic Fangs, Swampert's Hydro Cannon, and Cobalion's Sacred Sword can only be learned through the use of Elite TMs.
Best Ultra League Switches
Ideally, a switch will come in only once your lead Pokemon has been knocked out, preferably after having taken out at least one of your opponent's Pokemon and baited their shields.
However, sometimes you'll just need a spammy option to come in and shore things up. Again, we have presented you with several viable options, categorized in a tier list style.
Pokemon | Tier Ranking | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Charizard (Fire/Flying) | S-Tier | Wing Attack Blast Burn Dragon Claw | Grass Bug Steel Ground Fire Fighting Fairy | Rock Electric Water |
| Trevenant (Ghost/Grass) | S-Tier | Shadow Claw Shadow Ball Seed Bomb | Normal Fighting Water Ground Grass Electric | Dark Fire Flying Ghost Ice |
 Kyurem (Dragon/Ice) | S-Tier | Dragon Breath Glaciate Dragon Claw | Water Grass Electric | Dragon Fairy Fighting Rock Steel |
| Registeel (Steel) | S-Tier | Lock On Focus Blast Zap Cannon | Poison Steel Rock Psychic Normal Ice Grass Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground |
 Shadow Walrein (Ice/Water) | S-Tier | Powder Snow Icicle Spear Earthquake | Ice Water | Electric Fighting Grass Rock |
 Shadow Politoed (Water) | A-Tier | Mud Shot Weather Ball (Water) Blizzard | Water Steel Ice Fire | Electric Grass |
 Dubwool (Normal) | A-Tier | Double Kick Body Slam Payback | Ghost | Fighting |
| Altered Forme Giratina (Ghost/Dragon) | A-Tier | Shadow Claw Dragon Claw Shadow Sneak | Normal Fighting Water Poison Grass Fire Electric Bug | Dark Dragon Fairy Ghost Ice |
| Shadow Gliscor (Ground/Flying) | A-Tier | Wing Attack Night Slash Earthquake | Ground Poison Fighting Electric Bug | Ice Water |
 Cresselia (Psychic) | B-Tier | Psycho Cut Grass Knot Moonblast | Psychic Fighting | Bug Dark Ghost |
 Pelipper (Water/Flying) | B-Tier | Wing Attack Weather Ball (Water) Hurricane | Ground Water Steel Fire Fighting Bug | Electric Rock |
| Cobalion (Steel/Fighting) | B-Tier | Double Kick Sacred Sword Stone Edge | Rock Poison Bug Steel Normal Ice Grass Dragon Dark | Fighting Fire Ground |
 Samurott (Water) | B-Tier | Fury Cutter Hydro Cannon Megahorn | Water Steel Ice Fire | Electric Grass |
.jpg "Pokemon GO: The Best Teams For Ultra League (33)") Galarian Stunfisk (Ground/Steel) | C-Tier | Mud Shot Rock Slide Earthquake | Poison Rock Electric Steel Psychic Normal Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground Water |
 Overqwil (Dark/Poison) | C-Tier | Poison Jab Aqua Tail Shadow Ball | Psychic Poison Grass Ghost Dark | Ground |
| Sneasler (Fighting/Poison) | C-Tier | Shadow Claw Close Combat X-Scissor | Bug Rock Poison Grass Fighting Dark | Psychic Flying Ground |
 Shadow Drapion (Poison/Dark) | C-Tier | Poison Sting Crunch Aqua Tail | Psychic Poison Grass Ghost Dark | Ground |
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Cresselia's Moonblast, Registeel's Zap Cannon, Charizard's Wing Attack and Blast Burn, Cobalion's Sacred Sword, Kyurem's Glaciate, Walrein's Powder Snow and Icicle Spear, and Samurott's Hydro Cannon can only be acquired through the use of Elite TMs.
RELATED: Pokemon Go: All Special Evolutions
Best Ultra League Closers
These choices for closing Pokemon bring different characteristics to your party, whether you need a rapid assassin, a tanky survivor, or something in-between.
Choose carefully, as often your opponent's final Pokemon will be tricky to take down, and very unforgiving. This is especially true if you've long since used your own shields.
Pokemon | Tier-Ranking | Best Moves | Resistant | Weak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shadow Staraptor (Normal/Flying) | S-Tier | Wing Attack Brave Bird Close Combat | Ground Ghost Grass Bug | Electric Ice Rock |
 Regirock (Rock) | S-Tier | Lock On Stone Edge Focus Blast | Poison Normal Flying Fire | Fighting Grass Ground Steel Water |
| Registeel (Steel) | S-Tier | Lock On Focus Blast Zap Cannon | Poison Steel Rock Psychic Normal Ice Grass Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground |
 Regice (Ice) | S-Tier | Lock On Thunder Blizzard | Ice | Fighting Fire Rock Steel |
 Shadow Raikou (Electric) | S-Tier | Volt Switch Wild Charge Shadow Ball | Steel Flying Electric | Ground |
 Shadow Electivire (Electric) | A-Tier | Thunder Shock Wild Charge Ice Punch | Steel Flying Electric | Ground |
| Galarian Stunfisk (Ground/Steel) | A-Tier | Mud Shot Rock Slide Earthquake | Poison Rock Electric Steel Psychic Normal Flying Fairy Dragon Bug | Fighting Fire Ground Water |
| Cresselia (Psychic) | A-Tier | Psycho Cut Grass Knot Moonblast | Psychic Fighting | Bug Dark Ghost |
| Swampert (Water/Ground) | A-Tier | Mud Shot Hydro Cannon Earthquake | Steel Rock Poison Fire Electric | Grass |
| Pidgeot (Normal/Flying) | B-Tier | Wing Attack Feather Dance Brave Bird | Ground Ghost Grass Bug | Electric Ice Rock |
 Tapu Fini (Water/Fairy) | B-Tier | Water Gun Surf Moonblast | Dragon Water Ice Fire Fighting Dark Bug | Electric Grass Poison |
 Escavalier (Bug/Steel) | B-Tier | Counter Mega Horn Drill Run | Poison Grass Steel Psychic Normal Ice Fairy Dragon Bug | Fire |
| Trevenant (Ghost/Grass) | B-Tier | Shadow Claw Shadow Ball Seed Bomb | Normal Fighting Water Ground Grass Electric | Dark Fire Flying Ghost Ice |
| Jellicent (Water/Ghost) | C-Tier | Hex Surf Shadow Ball | Normal Fighting Water Steel Poison Ice Fire Bug | Dark Electric Ghost Grass |
 Tentacruel (Water/Poison) | C-Tier | Poison Jab Scald Blizzard | Water Steel Poison Ice Fire Fighting Fairy Bug | Electric Ground Psychic |
 Galarian Zapdos (Fighting/Flying) | C-Tier | Counter Ancient Power Brave Bird | Ground Bug Grass Fighting Dark | Electric Fairy Flying Ice Psychic |
 Blastoise (Water) | C-Tier | Water Gun Hydro Cannon Ice Beam | Water Steel Ice Fire | Electric Grass |
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Swampert's Hydro Cannon, Registeel's Zap Cannon, Pidgeot's Wing Attack, Regice's Thunder, Cresselia's Moonblast, and Blastoise's Hydro Cannon can only be taught to them by using Elite TMs.
Pokemon Go Ultra League: Recommended Team Comps
We've put together three teams that we think will help carry you up the ranks in the Ultra League. They offer great balance, tons of resistances, and fantastic shield baiting.
Sometimes, STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) can change the course of a battle. When you use a move that has the same type as your Pokemon, you'll benefit from increased damage. Combo this with your opponent's type weakness for devastating results.
Trevenant - Galarian Stunfisk - Swampert
This team may double dip on the Ground-type Pokemon, but it's incredibly strong. Trevenant comes with great typing to start with, some powerful Ghost-type moves, and should allow you to get ahead.
If not, then Galarian Stunfisk is the savior you need. It has TONS of resistances, meaning you should be able to get back on track when behind. Finally, Swampert comes in last to deal heavy, spammy damage.
Jellicent - Drapion - Escavalier
Keeping with the Ghost theme, this team leads with the ever-impressive Jellicent. This one should go longer than Trevenant, being more bulky and more damaging to the opponent.
Drapion is spammy with the troublesome Poison-type, while Escavalier is the very definition of rapid response. This team plays hard, and is higher-risk, faster-reward.
Pidgeot - Cobalion - Registeel
This team utilizes two Legendary Pokemon in addition to Pidgeot, one of the top performers on our Ultra League tier list. Open with Pidgeot, ranked as the number one Lead Pokemon in the current Ultra League meta.
Cobalion proves to be an excellent safe switch against most Pokemon, and Registeel is an extremely powerful closer, allowing you to finish off any of your opponent's remaining Pokemon, securing you the victory.
NEXT: Pokemon Go: Which Pokemon Are Attracted To Each Lure
